Apparatus For Connecting A Golf Club Shaft To A Golf Club Head And Golf Clubs Including The Same

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for connecting a golf club shaft to a golf club head, including an adjustment tube, and golf clubs including the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

1. Field of the Inventions

The present inventions relate generally to golf clubs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Golfers frequently customize their clubs to better suit their particularswing during the trial and error process commonly referred to as“fitting.” A golfer may try various shafts and club heads, as well asvarious face, loft and lie angles for each shaft and club headcombination, during the fitting process. In order to accommodate suchcustomization, various connector apparatus that releasably andadjustably mount club heads onto shafts have been proposed. The presentinventor has determined that such apparatus is susceptible toimprovement. For example, the present inventor has determined thatconventional connector apparatus can create an unstable connectionbetween the shaft and club head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Detailed description of embodiments of the inventions will be made withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a side view of a golf club in accordance with one embodimentof a present invention.

FIG. 1B is a partial section view of the golf club illustrated in FIG.1A.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an adapter in accordance with one embodiment ofa present invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the adapter illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an angular adjustment tube in accordance withone embodiment of a present invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the angular adjustment tube illustrated in FIG.5.

FIG. 7 is another end view of the angular adjustment tube illustrated inFIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a tube lock in accordance with one embodimentof a present invention.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the tube lock illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a section view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 12A-12D are section and partial section views showing the assemblyof a golf club in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of a portion of a golf club in accordance withone embodiment of a present invention.

FIG. 14 is a top view of an adapter in accordance with one embodiment ofa present invention showing the locations of various indicia around theperimeter of the adapter.

FIG. 15 is a top view of an angular adjustment tube in accordance withone embodiment of a present invention showing the locations of variousindicia around the perimeter of the angular adjustment tube.

FIG. 16 is a partial section view of a portion of a golf club inaccordance with one embodiment of a present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a tube lock in accordance with one embodimentof a present invention.

FIG. 18 is an end view of the tube lock illustrated in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a section view taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a section view of a portion of a golf club in accordance withone embodiment of a present invention.

FIG. 21 is a section view of an angular adjustment tube in accordancewith one embodiment of a present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the best presently knownmodes of carrying out the inventions. This description is not to betaken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose ofillustrating the general principles of the inventions.

The exemplary golf club 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes ashaft 100 with a tip portion 102 and grip portion 104, a club head 106that has a cylindrical hosel 108 and is adjustably and releasablymounted on the tip portion of the shaft, and a grip 110 carried on thegrip portion of the shaft. Although the present inventions are not solimited, the exemplary golf club 10 is a “driver” and the club head 104is a driver type club head. The present inventions are, however, equallyapplicable to any and all golf clubs including, but not limited to, all“woods,” “irons,” and “wedges.” The exemplary shaft 102 is a fiberreinforced resin composite shaft. Other suitable shafts include, but arenot limited to, metal shafts.

The club head 106 is adjustably and releasably mounted onto the shaft100 by way of a mounting apparatus 112 that is capable of positioningthe club head at a variety of face angles, loft angles, lie angles andcombinations thereof. The exemplary mounting apparatus 112 includes anadapter 114 that is secured to the shaft tip portion 102, an angularadjustment tube (or “adjustment tube”) 116 and a tube lock 118. Asdiscussed in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 2-12D, theadapter 114 may be permanently secured to the shaft 100 and used to biasthe shaft at a predetermined loft and/or lie angle, the adjustment tube116 may be used to fix the rotational orientation of the adapter and tobias the shaft at a loft and/lie angle that is combined with the adapterbias, and the tube lock 118 may be used to fix the rotationalorientation of the adjustment tube relative to the club head 106.

It should be noted that, as used herein, a first structure is“adjustably” mounted (or secured) to a second structure if the firststructure can be mounted in more than one orientation relative to thesecond structure, and a first structure is “releasably” mounted (orsecured) to a second structure if the first structure can be decoupledfrom the second structure without excessive effort or destruction ofeither structure or the instrumentality that is securing the structuresto one another. By contrast, “permanently” mounted (or secured)structures may not be separated from one another without excessiveeffort, destruction of either structure and/or destruction of theinstrumentality that is securing the two structures to one another.Examples of instrumentalities that “permanently” secure structures toone another include high strength adhesives, such as epoxy andcyanoacrylate adhesives, and welds.

Turning first to FIGS. 2-4, the exemplary adapter 114 includes acylindrical main portion 120 with top and bottom (or “longitudinal”)ends 122 and 124, a cylindrical lumen 126 within the main portion forthe shaft 100 (FIGS. 1A and 1B), an adapter rotation restrictor 128 atthe main portion bottom end, and a lip 130 at the main portion top end.The main portion 120 has a longitudinal axis A₁₂₀, an outer surface 132and an inner surface 134 that defines the cylindrical lumen 126. Thecylindrical lumen 126, which has a longitudinal axis A₁₂₆, is angularlyoffset (or “biased”) relative to the main portion 120 by an angle α. Inother words, longitudinal axis A₁₂₆ is not parallel to longitudinal axisA₁₂₀. The shaft 100 is carried within the cylindrical lumen 126 when thegolf club 10 is in the assembled state and will also be angularly offsetfrom the main portion by angle α. Although not limited to any particularmagnitude, angle α may range from about 0.25° to 5° in someimplementations, depending on club type, and is 1° in the illustratedimplementation. The lip 130 will rest on the adjustment tube lip 150(discussed below) when the adapter 114 is inserted into the adjustmenttube 116 (FIG. 1B). The exemplary adapter rotation restrictor 128 isconfigured to mate with a rotation restrictor on the adjustment tube 116in the manner described below.

The exemplary adapter 114 is also provided with an internal connector136 (e.g. a threaded lumen) that may be connected to a bolt 170 (orother fastener) in the manner described below with reference to FIGS.12C and 12D. In other implementations, such as that described below withreference to FIG. 16, the internal connector 136 may be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the exemplary adjustment tube 116 includes acylindrical main portion 138 with top and bottom (or “longitudinal”)ends 140 and 142, a cylindrical lumen 144 within the main portion forthe adapter 114 (FIGS. 1A and 1B), a first tube rotation restrictor 146associated with the lumen, a second tube rotation restrictor 148 at themain portion bottom end, and a lip 150 at the main portion top end. Themain portion 138 has a longitudinal axis A₁₃₈, an outer surface 152 witha taper 153, and an inner surface 154 that defines the cylindrical lumen144. The cylindrical lumen 144 has a longitudinal axis A₁₄₄ and isangularly offset (or “biased”) relative to the main portion 138 by anangle β (as is the first tube rotation restrictor 146). In other words,longitudinal axis A₁₄₄ is not parallel to longitudinal axis A₁₃₈.Although not limited to any particular magnitude, angle β may range fromabout 0.25° to 5° in some implementations, depending on club type, andis 1° in the illustrated implementation. The adapter 114 is carriedwithin the cylindrical lumen 144 when the golf club 10 is in theassembled state and will be angularly offset from the adjustment tubemain portion 138 by angle β, while the shaft 100 will be angularlyoffset from the adjustment tube main portion by the combination of angleα and angle β. The exemplary adapter lip 130, which is perpendicular tothe adapter cylindrical main portion 120, will rest on the adjustmenttube lip 150 when the adapter 114 is inserted into the adjustment tube116 (FIG. 1B). In order to insure a proper fit, the top surface 156 ofthe adjustment tube lip 150 slopes at angle β. The first tube rotationrestrictor 146 is configured to mate with the adapter rotationrestrictor 128, and the second tube rotation restrictor 148 isconfigured to mate with a corresponding rotation restrictor 162 on thetube lock 118, in the manner described below.

The exemplary adjustment tube 116 is also provided with apertures 158 aand 158 b through which a bolt 170 (or other fastener) may pass in themanner described below with reference to FIGS. 12C and 12D. Giving therange of possible angular orientations of the adjustment tube 116, thediameter of the aperture 158 b is larger than the diameter of theassociated portion of the bolt 170 (or other fastener) in order toinsure sufficient clearance during assembly. The apertures 158 a and 158b may also be the same size in some embodiments. In embodiments that donot include such a fastener (e.g., the embodiment illustrated in FIG.16), the apertures may be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, the exemplary tube lock 118 includes acylindrical wall 160 and a lock rotation restrictor 162 associated withthe wall. The lock rotation restrictor 162 is configured to mate withthe second tube rotation restrictor 148 in the manner described below.An aperture 164, through which a bolt 170 (or other fastener) may passin the manner described below with reference to FIGS. 12C and 12D, maybe provided. The diameter of the aperture 164 is larger than thediameter of the associated portion of the bolt 170 (or other fastener)in order to insure sufficient clearance during assembly. In embodimentsthat do not include such a fastener (e.g., the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 16), the aperture may be omitted.

The rotation restrictors 128, 146, 148 and 162 fix the rotationalorientations of the adapter 114, adjustment tube 116 and lock 118relative to one another and, as a result, the rotational orientations ofangle α and angle β relative to one another and to the golf club head.The golf club head 106 will, therefore, be biased relative to the shaft100 by the combination of angle α and angle β.

A wide varied of rotation restrictors may be employed. In theillustrated implementation, the rotation restrictors 128, 146, 148 and162 are gear-like and include projections 166 and recesses 168. Therespective configurations of the projections 166 and recesses 168 aresuch that the projections of one rotation restrictor (e.g. rotationrestrictor 148) fit into recesses of the associated rotation restrictor(e.g. rotation restrictor 162) and vice versa. The number of relativerotational orientations of the adapter 114, adjustment tube 116 and tubelock 118 is dictated by the configurations of the rotation restrictors.In the illustrated implementation, there are eight projections 166 andeight recesses 168 and, accordingly, there are eight relativeorientations of the adapter 114 and the adjustment tube 116 as well aseight relative orientations of the adjustment tube 116 and the tube lock118. Thus, there are sixty-four combinations of the rotational positionof angle α and the rotational position of angle β.

The number of indentations and recesses may be increased or decreased inother implementations and, although the number of possible relativeorientations of the adapter 114 and adjustment tube 116 is equal to thenumber of possible relative orientations of the adjustment tube 116 andtube lock 118, the present inventions are not so limited. It should alsobe noted that the rotation restrictors are not limited to theillustrated gear-like configuration. By way of example, but notlimitation, one or both of the rotation restrictors may be a geometricshape such as a square, triangle, or hexagon.

The exemplary rotation restrictors also have male/female relationships.To that end, the rotation restrictors 128 and 148 are respectivelyinserted into the rotation restrictors 146 and 162 when the recesses andprotrusions are aligned. This relationship may be reversed in otherimplementations. It should also be noted that the adjustment tube 116has two rotation restrictors, one male and one female, although theadjustment tube may be provided with two male rotation restrictors ortwo female rotation restrictors in other implementations.

The manner in which the exemplary mounting apparatus 112 may be used toadjustably and releasably mount the club head 106 to the shaft 100 atthe desired loft and lie angles is described below with reference toFIGS. 12A-12D.

Referring first to FIG. 12A, the tube lock 118 is positioned within theclub head hosel 108 and permanently secured thereto by, for example, anepoxy adhesive or welding. In other implementations, the tube lock 118may simply be an integral portion of the club head hosel.

The adjustment tube 116 is then inserted into the hosel 108. The outerdiameter of the cylindrical main portion 138 is essentially identical tothe inner diameter of the hosel 108 and, accordingly, there is a tightfit therebetween. It should also be noted that the club head 106includes a taper 107 that is slightly greater than or equal to theadjustment tube taper 153. The adjustment tube 116 may then be rotatedabout the longitudinal axis A₁₃₈ of the main portion 138 in order toposition the cylindrical lumen 144 (which is biased at angle β) at oneof the eight possible orientations, relative to the tube lock 118 andclub head 106, where the projections 166 and recesses 168 of therotation restrictors 148 and 162 are aligned. The adjustment tube 116 isthen pushed toward the tube lock 118 until the rotation restrictor 148is fully seated in the rotation restrictor 162 and the lip 150 abuts thetop of the hozel as shown in FIG. 12B. Rotation of the adjustment tube116 relative to the tube lock 118 is thereby prevented. However, as theassembly is not complete, the adjustment tube 116 may be pulled back,rotated, and pushed back into the tube lock 118 if desired.

In some instances, a resilient washer (e.g. a rubber washer) or otherwasher may be positioned at the end of the adjustment tube rotationrestrictor 148 and the bottom inner surface of the tube lock 118. Thewasher prevents the bolt 170 (or other fastener) from easily falling outof the club head when loosened.

Next, as also shown in FIG. 12B, the adapter 114 is inserted into theadjustment tube 116. The shaft 100 will have been inserted into theadapter lumen 126, and permanently secured thereto with an adhesive orother suitable instrumentality, prior to the adapter 114 being insertedinto the adjustment tube 116. The diameter of the adapter outer surface132 is essentially identical to the diameter of the adjustment tubeinner surface 154 and, accordingly, there is a tight fit therebetween.The adapter 114 (and shaft 100) may then be rotated about thelongitudinal axis A₁₂₀ of the main portion 120 in order to position thecylindrical lumen 126 (which is biased at angle α) and the shaft 100 atone of the eight possible orientations, relative to the adjustment tube116, where the projections 166 and recesses 168 of the rotationrestrictors 128 and 146 are aligned. The adapter 114 is then pushedtoward the adjustment tube 116 until the rotation restrictor 128 isfully seated in the rotation restrictor 146 and the lip 130 abuts thetop surface 156 of the adjustment tube lip 150 as shown in FIG. 12C.Rotation of the adapter 114 (and shaft 100) relative to the adjustmenttube 116 is thereby prevented. However, as the assembly is not complete,the adapter 114 may be pulled back, rotated, and pushed back into theadjustment tube 116 if desired.

The assembly of the mounting apparatus 112 and, therefore, the golf club10 is completed when the mounting apparatus is releasably anchored orotherwise releasably secured to the club head 106. In the exemplaryembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-12D, the mounting apparatus 112 isreleasably secured to the club head 106 by way of a bolt 170 (FIGS. 12Cand 12D), which has a threaded portion 172 and a head 174, and a clubhead recess 176, which has an end wall 178 and an end wall aperture 180.The bolt head 174 may include an indentation (not shown) for a tool suchas a screwdriver, Allen wrench or the like. The diameter of the end wallaperture 180 is smaller than the diameter of the bolt head 174. The bolt170 is inserted through the end wall aperture 180, tube lock aperture164 and adjustment tube apertures 158 a and 158 b, and is secured to theinternal connector 136 on the adapter 114 via rotation of the bolt. Insome instances, a lock washer may be positioned between the bolt head174 and the recess end wall 178. Tightening the bolt 170 results in thebolt head 174 abutting the end wall 180, the adapter tube 114 beingpulled tightly against the adjustment tube 116, and the adjustment tubebeing pushed tightly against the tube lock 118 in the manner illustratedin FIG. 12D, thereby completing the assembly of the mounting apparatus112 and golf club 10. Should subsequent adjustment be desired, the userneed only remove the bolt 170 to facilitate disassembly of the mountingapparatus 112.

In some implementations, a ferrule 182 may be positioned on the shaft110 and abutting the adapter tube 114 for cosmetic purposes.

Another aspect of the assembly process is, as alluded to above,obtaining the desired rotational orientations of the adapter 114 andadjustment tube 116 relative to the club head 106. Referring to FIGS.13-15, the club head 106 may be provided with a marker 184 that servesas a reference point. The marker 184 may be located on the heel 186, asshown, or any other suitable location. The adapter 114 and adjustmenttube 116 may be provided with indicia corresponding to the effects ofthe various orientations of the adapter and adjustment tube (and theangles α and β thereof) relative to the reference point. The adapter 114and adjustment tube 116 in the illustrated implementation each haveeight possible rotational positions relative to the marker 184. Theindicia may be provided on the sides of the adapter lip 130 andadjustment tube lip 150, as shown in FIG. 13, or on the top of the lips.The overall configuration of the mounting apparatus 112, the orientationof the tube lock 118, and location of marker 184 are such that theindicia will be aligned with the marker at each rotational position ofthe adapter 114 and adjustment tube 116.

The indicia in the illustrated implementation includes letters “L,” “R,”“U,” “F” and dots therebetween. The respective positions of theexemplary indicia on the sides of the adapter lip 130 and adjustmenttube lip 150 are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. For both the adapter 114 andadjustment tube 116, alignment of the L with the marker 184 results in amore leftward shot (i.e. a more closed face and slightly higher loft),alignment of the R with the marker results in a more rightward shot(i.e. a more open face and slightly lower loft), alignment of the U withthe marker results in a more upright lie, alignment of the F with themarker results in a more flat lie, and alignment with the dots resultsin a combination of the biasing associated with the adjacent letters.For example, aligning the Ls of the adapter 114 and adjustment tube 116with the marker 184 would maximize the leftward bias without effectingthe lie, while the orientations illustrated in FIG. 13 would result inslightly less bias to the left and a small increase in flat bias. Itshould also be noted that the biasing effect of the mounting apparatus112 may be eliminated by aligning the L of the adapter 114 with the Radjustment tube 116.

Suitable materials for the mounting apparatus 112, e.g. the adapter 114,adjustment tube 116 and a tube lock 118, include but are not limited to6061-T6 aluminum, 7075-T7 aluminum, titanium, and lightweight alloys ofsimilar strength.

Although the present inventions have been described in terms of thepreferred embodiments above, numerous modifications and/or additions tothe above-described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent toone skilled in the art.

By way of example, but not limitation, the present inventions are notlimited to the bolt-based releasable anchoring of the mounting apparatusdescribed above. To that end, the exemplary golf club 10 a illustratedin FIG. 16 is substantially similar to golf club 10 and similar elementsare represented by similar reference numerals. Here, however, themounting apparatus 112 a is releasably secured to the club head 106 awith a removable cap 188. There are a variety of ways to releasablysecure the cap 188 to the club head 106 a. In the illustratedembodiment, threads 190 and 192 are provided on the outer surface of theclub head 106 a and the inner surface of the cap 188. The cap 188 alsohas an abutment surface 194 that engages the adapter lip 130. The cap188 drives the adapter 114 a into the adjustment tube 116 a, and drivesthe adjustment tube into the tube lock 118 a, as it is screwed onto theclub head 106 a. If desired, the adapter 114 a, adjustment tube 116 aand tube lock 118 a may be provided without the internal connector 136and apertures 158 a, 158 b and 164 (shown in FIG. 12C), and the clubhead 106 a may be provided without the club head recess 176 and end wallaperture 180. The exemplary cap 188 also has an aperture 196 for theshaft 100. Given the wide variety of possible angular orientations ofthe shaft 100, the diameter of the aperture 196 is larger that thediameter of the corresponding portion of the shaft 100. Also, the cap188 will typically be positioned on the shaft 100 prior to permanentlysecuring the adapter 114 a to the shaft.

Turning to FIGS. 17-19, the exemplary tube lock 118 b is essentiallyidentical to tube lock 118 and similar elements are represented bysimilar references numerals. Here, however, the rotation restrictor 162extends from top to bottom. The tube lock 118 b may be employed in,among others, the exemplary mounting apparatus 112 and 112 a. The tubelock 118 b may also be a separate structure that is attached to the clubhead (as shown) or an integral portion of the club head hosel.

In the exemplary embodiments described above, angle α and angle β areboth non-zero, i.e. there is some possible biasing associated with boththe adapter and the adjustment tube. In other implementations, the angleα may be zero and the angle β may be non-zero, or the angle α may benon-zero and the angle β may be zero.

It should also be noted that many of the cylindrical surfaces describedherein may slightly tapered, i.e. slightly frusto-conical, if necessaryor desired. For example, should the tip portion of the associated golfclub shaft be tapered, the adapter lumen 126 (FIG. 4) may be slightlytapered. The main portion outer surface 132 (FIG. 2) and adjustment tubeinner surface 154 (FIG. 8) may be slightly tapered. Should theassociated golf club hosel be tapered, the adjustment tube outer surface152 (FIG. 5) may be slightly tapered.

The locations of the rotations restrictors may also vary from theillustrated locations. For example, the adapter rotation restrictor 128(FIG. 4) may be located on the exterior of the main portion 120 near thelip 130 and the adjustment tube rotation restrictor 146 (FIG. 8) may belocated along the inner surface 154 inward of the lip 150.

Turning to FIG. 20, the tube lock 118 c, with a rotation restrictor 162c, may be an integral portion of the exemplary club head 106 c andlocated at the top of the hosel 108 c. The adjustment tube 116 c isprovided with a corresponding second tube rotation restrictor 148 c (inplace of the rotation restrictor 148 in FIG. 8) as well as a first tuberotation restrictor 146 in the position illustrated in FIG. 8.

Various portions of the exemplary angular adjustment tube 116 (FIGS.5-8) may be omitted. As illustrated for example in FIG. 21, the angularadjustment tube 116 d includes a main portion 138 d that is only longenough to accommodate the first and second rotation restrictors 146 and148, and is significantly shorter than the length of the hosel. Thefirst rotation restrictor 146 is biased to angle β as is describedabove.

It is intended that the scope of the present inventions extend to allsuch modifications and/or additions. Moreover, the present inventionsinclude golf clubs having a shaft, a club head, and the apparatusdescribed above and claimed below.

1. An apparatus for use with a golf club shaft adapter having an adapterrotation restrictor and a golf club head with a hosel having a hoselrotation restrictor, the apparatus comprising: a main portion definingfirst and second longitudinal ends and a main portion longitudinal axis;a lumen, within the main portion and adapted to receive the golf clubshaft adapter, defining an opening associated with the firstlongitudinal end of the main portion and a lumen longitudinal axis thatis not parallel to the main portion longitudinal axis; a first mainportion rotation restrictor associated with the cylindrical lumen andconfigured to engage the adapter rotation restrictor; and a second mainportion rotation restrictor associated with an exterior of the mainportion.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main portionhas a cylindrical outer surface.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the lumen comprises a cylindrical lumen.
 4. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the lumen longitudinal axis and the mainportion longitudinal axis are angularly offset by an angle of about 0.25degrees to 5 degrees.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thelumen defines a first longitudinal end associated with the opening and asecond longitudinal end; and the first main portion rotation restrictoris associated with the second longitudinal end of the lumen.
 6. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second main portionrotation restrictor is associated with the second longitudinal end ofthe main portion.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein atleast one of the first and second main portion rotation restrictorsincludes a plurality of projections and a plurality of recesses.
 8. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first and secondmain portion rotation restrictors is a male rotation restrictor and theother of the first and second main portion rotation restrictors is afemale rotation restrictor.
 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the main portion defines an outer surface and at least part ofthe outer surface is tapered.
 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,further comprising an aperture extending from the second longitudinalend of the main portion to the lumen.
 11. An apparatus for use with agolf club shaft and a golf club head with a hosel, the apparatuscomprising: a tube lock including a tube lock rotation restrictor; anadapter including an adapter main portion defining an adapter mainportion longitudinal axis, an adapter lumen configured to receive thegolf club shaft and defining an adapter lumen longitudinal axis, and anadapter rotation restrictor; and an adjustment tube including anadjustment tube main portion defining an adjustment tube main portionlongitudinal axis, an adjustment tube lumen configured to receive theadapter and defining an adjustment tube lumen longitudinal axis, a firstadjustment tube rotation restrictor configured to engage the adapterrotation restrictor, and a second adjustment tube rotation restrictorconfigured to engage the tube lock rotation restrictor; wherein theadapter lumen longitudinal axis is not parallel to the adapter mainportion longitudinal axis and/or the adjustment tube lumen longitudinalaxis is not parallel to the an adjustment tube main portion longitudinalaxis.
 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tube lock isconfigured to be inserted into the hosel and secured thereto.
 13. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tube lock rotationrestrictor includes a plurality of projections and a plurality ofrecesses.
 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adaptermain portion has a cylindrical outer surface.
 15. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the adapter main portion defines first andsecond longitudinal ends and the adapter rotation restrictor isassociated with the second longitudinal end.
 16. An apparatus as claimedin claim 15, wherein the adapter main portion includes a connectorassociated with the second longitudinal end.
 17. An apparatus as claimedin claim 11, wherein the adapter lumen longitudinal axis and the adaptermain portion longitudinal axis are angularly offset by an angle of about0.25 degrees to 5 degrees.
 18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11,wherein the adapter rotation restrictor includes a plurality ofprojections and a plurality of recesses.
 19. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the adjustment tube main portion has a cylindricalouter surface.
 20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein theadjustment tube main portion has an outer surface and at least part ofthe outer surface is tapered.
 21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11,wherein the adjustment tube lumen comprises a cylindrical lumen.
 22. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjustment tube lumenlongitudinal axis and the adjustment tube main portion longitudinal axisare angularly offset by an angle of about 0.25 degrees to 5 degrees. 23.An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and secondadjustment tube rotation restrictors are adjacent to one another.
 24. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and secondadjustment tube rotation restrictors are associated with oppositelongitudinal portions of the adjustment tube main portion.
 25. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first andsecond adjustment tube rotation restrictors includes a plurality ofprojections and a plurality of recesses.
 26. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 11, wherein one of the first and second adjustment tube rotationrestrictors is a male rotation restrictor and the other of the first andsecond adjustment tube rotation restrictors is a female rotationrestrictor.
 27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:an aperture extending from a longitudinal end of the adjustment tube tothe adjustment tube lumen.
 28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11,further comprising: means for releasably securing the adapter andadjustment tube to the golf club head.
 29. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the first adjustment tube rotation restrictor and theadapter rotation restrictor are respectively configured such that theycan be engaged with one another at a plurality of different rotationalorientations; and the second adjustment tube rotation restrictor and thetube lock rotation restrictor are respectively configured such that theycan be engaged with one another at a plurality of different rotationalorientations.
 30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hoseldefines a diameter; the adjustment tube main portion defines an outerdiameter, that is substantially equal to the hosel diameter, and aninner diameter; and the adapter main portion defines an outer diameterthat is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the adjustment tubemain portion.
 31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein theadapter lumen longitudinal axis is not parallel to the adapter mainportion longitudinal axis and the adjustment tube lumen longitudinalaxis is not parallel to the an adjustment tube main portion longitudinalaxis.
 32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mainportion rotation restrictor is associated with the first longitudinalend of the main portion.
 33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32,wherein the lumen defines a first longitudinal end associated with theopening and a second longitudinal end; and the first main portionrotation restrictor is associated with the second longitudinal end ofthe lumen.
 34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the secondmain portion rotation restrictor includes a plurality of projections.35. An apparatus for use with a golf club shaft adapter having anadapter rotation restrictor, the apparatus comprising: a golf club headincluding a hosel with a top portion and a hosel rotation restrictor atthe top portion of the hosel; and angular adjustment tube including amain portion defining first and second longitudinal ends and a mainportion longitudinal axis, a lumen, within the main portion and adaptedto receive the golf club shaft adapter, defining an opening associatedwith the first longitudinal end of the main portion and a lumenlongitudinal axis that is not parallel to the main portion longitudinalaxis, a first main portion rotation restrictor associated with thecylindrical lumen and configured to engage the adapter rotationrestrictor, and a second main portion rotation restrictor associatedwith the exterior of the first longitudinal end of the main portion. 36.An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the hosel rotationrestrictor is integral with the top portion of the hosel.
 37. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the second main portionrotation restrictor includes a plurality of projections.
 38. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the hosel rotation restrictorincludes a plurality of recesses.
 39. An apparatus as claimed in claim37, wherein the hosel rotation restrictor includes a plurality ofprojections that defines a plurality of spaces therebetween.
 40. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein one of the first and secondmain portion rotation restrictors is a male rotation restrictor and theother of the first and second main portion rotation restrictors is afemale rotation restrictor.
 41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35,wherein the lumen longitudinal axis and the main portion longitudinalaxis are angularly offset by an angle of about 0.25 degrees to 5degrees.